Profiles a variety of Galâapagos Island consumers, producers, and decomposers, explaining how each one fits into the region.

Evolution, Explanation, Ethics and Aesthetics: Towards a Philosophy of Biology focuses on the dominant biological topic of evolution. It deals with the prevailing philosophical themes of how to explain the adaptation of organisms, the interplay of chance and necessity, and the recurrent topics of emergence, reductionism, and progress. In addition, the extensively treated topic of how to explain human nature as a result of natural processes and the encompassed issues of the foundations of morality and the brain-to-mind transformation is discussed. The philosophy of biology is a rapidly expanding field, not more than half a century old at most, and to a large extent is replacing the interest in the philosophy of physics that prevailed in the first two-thirds of the twentieth century. Few texts available have the benefit of being written by an eminent biologist who happens to be also a philosopher, as in this work. This book is a useful resource for seminar courses and college courses on the philosophy of biology. Researchers, academics, and students in evolutionary biology, behavior, genetics, and biodiversity will also be interested in this work, as will those in human biology and issues such as ethics, religion, and the human mind, along with professional philosophers of science and those concerned with such issues as whether evolution is compatible with religion and/or where morality comes from. - Presents the unique perspective of a distinguished biologist with extensive experience in the field who has published much about the subject in a wide variety of journals and edited volumes - Covers the philosophical issues related to evolution and biology in an approachable and readable style - Includes the most up-to-date treatment of this burgeoning, exciting field within biology - Provides the ideal guide for researchers, academics, and students in evolutionary biology, behavior, genetics, and biodiversity

The Galapagos Islands of Ecuador are world famous for their unique plants and animals, and the hints these gave to Charles Darwin in forming his ideas on evolution by natural selection. They are the world's least altered set of tropical oceanic islands. The oldest islands have been available for colonization by land plants and animals for about 3-4 million years. At least 1850 species of insects and 350 species of other terrestrial arthropods are now known to occur on the islands. Beetles are the largest order of animals, and globally comprise about 25% of all animal species. They also represent about 25% of all terrestrial animals known in the Galapagos Islands. This book is a synthesis of both previously published information and abundant new data gathered during extensive recent field studies on Galapagos beetles. Generalizations are presented on the dynamics and patterns of the evolution, ecology, and distribution of the entire beetle fauna. The core of the book is an account of the 486 species of beetles with detailed information on their distribution and bionomics. This work will be of interest to entomologists, island ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and conservation scientists as a framework for future study and protection of the fauna and flora of the islands. It is a contribution to a comparative global understanding of the origin, evolution, and ecological structuring of oceanic island insect faunas.